‘Titans’ profile: Who is Jason Todd?

The Bat doesn't chase, he replaces...what a "Dick" move!

Titans has hit its stride as of late. The slow burn assembling of Robin, Raven, Starfire and Beast Boy has paid off last week as they’ve finally come together. The show has expanded beyond the core four by introducing Hawk and Dove, a crime-fighting yin/yang duo that’s on the verge of one last job, the Doom Patrol, DC’s answer to the X-Men and now – Jason Todd, the new Boy Wonder.

Last year’s model vs this year’s model (DC Universe)

The Basics:

Jason Todd is the second person to assume the mantle of Batman’s sidekick. Jason Todd, initially was a carbon copy of Grayson in the sense of a lot of the same characteristics are intact (the son of circus performers that died at the hands of criminals, a lighthearted foil to Batman) and Bruce Wayne adopts him and becomes the new Robin.

The character got a reboot after the Crisis on Infinite Earths maxi-series wiped the slate clean for the DC Universe at large by making Jason a troubled, angry orphan who meets Batman after he tries to steal the tires off the Batmobile. Thankfully, Jason proved himself to Batman by helping him stop a gang of robbers and he earns his place in the Bat-family as a result.

The Differences:

Jason Todd is a more rebellious Robin than Dick Grayson. Grayson, who’s highly skilled in combat with an emphasis on his ultra-athleticism, is a much more brutal fighter, incorporating heavier impact fighting styles such as Savate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, to name a few. Plus, he’s got a pretty bad attitude, to boot. At times, he defies Batman’s authority, he smokes and cusses like a sailor. Readers didn’t really warm up to this new Robin the same way they did with Grayson.

A Death and rebirth in The Family:

Thanks to a fan vote, Jason Todd met his end in the Batman: A Death in the Family story arc where the Joker kidnaps him. He dies at the hands of Joker – or does he? Either way, it was an important moment in the Batman mythology.

RIP? Art by Jim Aparo (DC Comics)

In 2005, Jason Todd was resurrected in Judd Winick’s Under the Hood storyline and he’s got a new identity, The Red Hood!

Reborn! (DC Comics) art by Doug Mahnke

Titans:

This week’s episode of Titans features Jason’s live action debut. Curran Walters brings Jason to life for the first time in any medium. Jason’s dynamic with Dick Grayson is said to be a major part of the episode. The two Robins are completely different people. Dick (played by Brenton Thwaites), in a way, serves as a big brother to Jason’s punk-rock, aggro attitude. Jealousy abounds as these two work together in the next episode of Titans!

(DC Universe)

Titans is currently streaming on the DC Universe service every Friday.

My fandom is multifaceted—I watch every Marvel live-action property (film and television alike) as well as DC's lineup. 'Daredevil' Season 1 made me take the leap into reading comics. I also have an affinity for strong, well-written female characters. I also love prestige series such as 'Game of Thrones', 'The Wire', 'Better Call Saul' and 'Atlanta'. When I'm not writing or watching Netflix, I'm a massive gamer and my PS4 is so worth two hours of my day.